Morning walks and jogs are healthy. Everyone agrees with this universal fact! There is no other way around it. It is a fact!
The fact is it may not be the full truth!
Morning walks or jogs seem like a great way to start your day, but they may not be so for many!
Increased Heart Attack Risks
If you engage in infrequent morning exercise, you are putting yourself at a higher risk of a heart attack. It doesn't need much explanation to claim that exercise causes an increase in both heart rate and blood pressure.
People who are not prone to regular physical activity in general or in the morning place themselves at higher risks of suffering a myocardial infarction.
There is one more important thing to know as a morning walker. The risk of a heart attack increases further when you exercise in cold weather. The cold conditions of early morning increase your blood pressure further compared to normal conditions. This causes your heart to experience additional levels of stress.
Circadian Rhythm Disruption
Morning walks are often an essential part of everyday routine for many people. They can skip a few hours of sleep but not on their walk. And this sounds great because it is all about discipline!
Everyone takes the adage, “the early bird catches the worm” as the universal rule. So, it is important to rise early and take that morning walk or jog! But most people don't want to think about the loss of much-needed sleep and the disruption to their circadian rhythm.
When you walk in the morning, it confuses your body’s natural clock. Morning walks are typically taken early in the morning. The combined effect of circadian rhythm disruption and exercise can create the perfect setup for sleep issues and other related health problems.
Especially if you work night shifts or late into the night, morning walks are not for you!
Potential Mental Health Impact
It may seem like a far-fetched thing to claim that morning walks can cause or increase the chances of mental health issues in any way. There are valid reasons for making this claim.
When you work out, your cortisol level rises. Cortisol is commonly referred to as the stress hormone. If you already suffer from high anxiety and stress levels, your morning walks are going to further worsen your condition. You will have the perfect recipe for developing or worsening mental health issues.
Cardiac Patients & Morning Walk
As a cardiac patient, you should be careful when deciding on your morning walks. Almost everyone would agree that this recommendation goes against the norm!
It is a “universal truth” that morning walks are good for the heart. Still, many doctors recommend against morning walks when the temperatures are chilling outside. They especially advise cardiovascular disease patients to not take risks.
Winter conditions can cause the arteries to shrink and tighten. This can lead to blood flow restriction and a reduction in oxygen supply to the heart. When you expose your body to cold temperatures during morning walks, your heart will have to work harder to maintain the body temperature.
How to Protect Your Heart During Morning Walks?
Whether you are a cardiac patient or not, if you cannot stave off the urge to embark on morning walks, you should take measures to prevent potential heart risks.
Take all measures to protect yourself from the winter breeze. Make sure there are healthy breaks so that you can feel relaxed (and not exhausted) during your walk.
If you already suffer from hypertension, you are at greater risk. When the winter breeze starts blowing, you should spend your mornings in bed. At the same time, it is recommended to avoid high-calorie foods. You should, however, increase your water intake.
If a morning walk is a must, try going out after the sunrise!
So, the next time you go out for a morning walk, make sure you are making the right decision!
Resources: Medium, Timesofindia
